Michael Bourke

Michael Bourke
Occupation	Publican
Years active	1862-1879
Known for	Blind Creek Hotel Black Swan Hotel
Home town	Gordon Clunes

Michael Bourke was a publican in the Ballarat district.

History

There were at least three reports of a Michael Bourke as a publican.

Blind Creek

In 1862 the publican's license for the Blind Creek Hotel on the Burrumbeet Road, west of Ballarat was granted to a Michael Bourke. Bourke owned the hotel but had leased it to John Brooke. In June 1863 Brooke did not appear at the Licensing Court, and the license was given to the owner, Michael Bourke. The police objected to the conditions of the building:

Michael Bourke, Blind Creek Hotel, Blind Creek. Inspector Kabat had no objection to the man, but he had to the house, which wanted ceiling and papering. The applicant said he was not the present occupier, and could not make the required repairs until he got into the house. Inspector Kabat said there was no stable accommodation, and this was indispensable when a hotel was in the Suburban district. The Beach decided upon postponing its decision for one month, the applicant in the meantime to be permitted to sell liquors on the premises.

One month later, the license was again issued to Brooke.

Gordon

In December 1878 a new license for the Black Swan Hotel at Gordon was issued to a Michael Bourke. This license was renewed again in December 1879.

Clunes

In November 1879, a Michael Bourke was fined for Sunday trading at Clunes. The hotel was not named in the newspaper report:

Senior-constable Nolan next proceeded against Michael Bourke for permitting liquor to be drunk in his licensed premises on Sunday. Mr Philipps for the defendant. Mary Tobin, a servant in the hotel, was called, and though a very unwilling witness: she was forced to admit that there were more than five persons in the hotel at about half-past 1, o’clock on Sunday morning, and that they had drinks before them. Senior-constable Nolan proved to having been passing the house at the hour named above, when he heard a noise in the bar-parlor. He knocked at the door several times, and told the licensee to desist selling on Sunday morning, but after keeping quiet for a short time the noise was carried on as before. He saw through the window the wife of the licensee measuring out drinks several times and carrying them into the room where the men were, and subsequently saw two men, the worse for drink let out of the hotel. Mr Philipps contended that there was no proof of the liquor being drunk. The bench, however, considered a good case had been made out, and fined defendant 40s, with 2s 6d costs.